2014 F1 season

Formula One drivers will select race numbers which they will retain for the rest of their careers from next season.

Drivers will be given the choice of numbers between 2 and 99 from next year.

The number one will remain for special use of the reigning world champion, if they choose to use it. Where two drivers choose the same number, whoever finished highest in the championship will have first preference.

This is the first change to the numbering system for Formula One cars since 1996, when the current system based on the constructors’ championship finishing positions was introduced.

I’m not really too pleased about this. As I said in the forum, I’ve never had any trouble identifying drivers, and even if for some reason, I do, then the commentary team or on-screen graphics are quick enough to tell me. There is just no need for this, and there are plenty more significant issues to address than something as trivial as this.

I, for the life of me, can’t see why people have a problem with this. The number thing can become part of a legends story. Rossi will forever be associated with 46 for example. But he changed his helmets to reflect his personality, his sense of humour, his creativity, or what was happening in his life at the time. But 46 always stayed true, I think that this worked in perfect harmony.

Can I assume that last year’s championship order will be the order current drivers pick there numbers in? Constructor order for rookies?
Also if Vettel chooses 1 will he also pick his “normal” number now or wait until he needs it.
To make it worthwhile they need to get a large enough number on either side of the car, the nose and possibly the drivers surname on the back of the rear wing beam. As im guessing this is to try and aide recognisability of drivers.

Surprised people are so against this. I think it’s a great idea and gives drivers more of an identity. When I think of Nigel Mansell, I think of a red number 5. When I think of Hamilton, there isn’t anything iconic that springs to mind.

When Hamilton moved from McLaren to Mercedes, there was nothing of Hamilton on the car. If his number moved with him, there would be something that marked him apart.

The FIA need to take this further IMO and stipulate that the numbers have to be a minimum size. They need to be visible on the cars.

I can’t really give a flying fig one way or the other about the virtually invisible numbers but this is just another example of FIA/FOM looking to copy something from other series as a quick fix but as usual they ignore the real reason for the other series popularity – good wheel to wheel racing.

With the help of PDVSA Maldonado will buy a better number than he deserves, assuming Lotus can maintain their current form.

@hohum – Read the article again. It clearly says that drivers will choose their numbers in WDC order, not WCC. And you are also assuming that Maldonado would want a number that another driver would want.

You claim that this is a specious move by the FIA, but to be perfectly honest, that argument that you made is just as specious.

@prisoner-monkeys, you are assuming that Maldonado wouldn’t score any more points driving a Lotus than he would a Caterham, which is where he could expect to be if he did not have PDVSA backing, read my comment again.

No, @prisoner-monkeys is right. Maldonado picks his number NOW for next year so he is 18th on the list. It doesn’t matter how much money he gets next year. He is third to bottom this year, and thats what counts for number choice.